Education & CurriculumDiscuss Democrat who blasted Betsy DeVos over school vouchers is a big fan of school choice f at the General Discussion; NIMBY!
Franken needs to go back to comedy on television instead of makin' a joke outta himself in the Senate.
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Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) was one of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos’ biggest critics during her confirmation hearing. One major point of contention Franken had with DeVos was her support for a voucher system for middle-class families. This, in part, led him to claim that DeVos was “fundamentally unqualified to lead the Education Department.”

“In reality, most school vouchers don’t cover the full cost of private school tuition,” Franken had said. “Nor do they cover additional expenses like transportation, school uniforms and other supplies.

“Which means the vouchers don’t create more choices for low-income families,” he said. “They simply subsidize existing choices for families who could already afford to pay for private school.”

However, information has surfaced that shows Franken isn’t opposed to school choice at all — at least not when it comes to his own family. According to the Daily Caller, Franken sends his own children to one of the most prestigious schools in New York, where tuition is more than the yearly salary of those Franken claims he’s looking out for.

Minnesota Sen. Al Franken’s two children attend Dalton School, described by the liberal-leaning Daily Beast as “one of New York’s most exclusive and rigorous private schools and boasts an impressive roster of celebrity alumni, including Anderson Cooper and Claire Danes.” Dalton’s application asks parents to list any prestigious titles they hold, including, “Princess, Senate and Ambassador,” according to The Daily Beast.

Franken describes Dalton as “a very high-powered, expensive New York City private high school.”

How expensive? Dalton’s tuition is currently $44,640 a year.

Furthermore, Franken himself benefited from school choice. According to an interview in Harvard Magazine, Franken attended one of the most prestigious charter schools in Minnesota.

Franken turned out to be a whiz in science and math, and when his brother went off to MIT, the family began to look for a better secondary school for Al. As it happened, Blake was looking for kids just like him.

“Blake was a school chartered for Protestants,” Franken said. “In the 1950s, it started to lose the ability to get enough kids into top colleges. They needed kids who would score well. And they said …‘JEWS!’ ”

Interestingly enough, the National Education Association was also opposed to DeVos. The organization’s president, Lily Eskelsen García, called DeVos “dangerously unqualified” and echoed the same sentiments that Franken expressed concerning DeVos’ lack of experience with public schools.

According to Union Facts, Franken was given $10,000 for his campaign by the NEA.

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Re: Democrat who blasted Betsy DeVos over school vouchers is a big fan of school choi

Big Al is all for school choice just like a significant portion of public school teachers who send their kids to private schools. I don't fault Al for sending his kids to a $44K/yr private school but what's he got against a family that might only make 44 to 100K a year getting a voucher to defray the cost of $5k a year school?

Re: Democrat who blasted Betsy DeVos over school vouchers is a big fan of school choi

Quote:

Originally Posted by zoriolus

Big Al is all for school choice just like a significant portion of public school teachers who send their kids to private schools. I don't fault Al for sending his kids to a $44K/yr private school but what's he got against a family that might only make 44 to 100K a year getting a voucher to defray the cost of $5k a year school?

Just how much do you think a public school teacher makes?

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Originally Posted by TiredRetired View Post
Damn shame it couldn't have been a father / son event. IMHO.

Re: Democrat who blasted Betsy DeVos over school vouchers is a big fan of school choi

Quote:

Originally Posted by winston53660

Just how much do you think a public school teacher makes?

Why is that part of the school voucher issue?

The issue is simple. Too many kids attend failing schools not by choice, but because of lack of options. Vouchers provide a new set of options for parents and students. Since we the taxpayer already are footing the bill and the system fails many students, why not provide competition as a way to increase results?

Re: Democrat who blasted Betsy DeVos over school vouchers is a big fan of school choi

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimbo

Why is that part of the school voucher issue?

The issue is simple. Too many kids attend failing schools not by choice, but because of lack of options. Vouchers provide a new set of options for parents and students. Since we the taxpayer already are footing the bill and the system fails many students, why not provide competition as a way to increase results?

zoriolus seems to be under the assumption that

Quote:

just like a significant portion of public school teachers who send their kids to private schools.

currently. So I I'm just wondering about that statement.

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Originally Posted by TiredRetired View Post
Damn shame it couldn't have been a father / son event. IMHO.

Re: Democrat who blasted Betsy DeVos over school vouchers is a big fan of school choi

Pretty sure you can send your child to whatever school you want and still be opposed to sending taxpayer dollars to private education institutions in order to subsidize them. There's no hypocrisy here.

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Re: Democrat who blasted Betsy DeVos over school vouchers is a big fan of school choi

Quote:

Originally Posted by winston53660

Just how much do you think a public school teacher makes?

It depends on where they work. In Chicago, I think the salaries are in the 50 to 70 range but it's interesting that private school teachers are paid less according to reports. However, the significant issue is where public school teachers send their own kids. Urban PS teachers are more likely to send their kids to a private school than the general population. Al Franken also wants to send his kids to the best school he can afford.

Re: Democrat who blasted Betsy DeVos over school vouchers is a big fan of school choi

Quote:

Originally Posted by WallyWager

Pretty sure you can send your child to whatever school you want and still be opposed to sending taxpayer dollars to private education institutions in order to subsidize them. There's no hypocrisy here.

Rich parents can. Upper and some middle middle income can, but it's a struggle. For the lower middle and poor it's not an option.

We subsidize all education in the US. For the private school parent the cost is a triple hit. You lose the taxpayer subsidy going to the public school, you pay out of pocket for the private school, and you pay in after tax dollars.

The hypocrisy lies in the belief that the private option should be available only to the upper classes and the lower classes should just suck it up and go where there told. Believe it or not, there are still a few poor and middle class parents who want what's best for their kids. Given options, they will at least attempt to do what's right.

The winners in the present system is the public system and the teachers and unions. Everyone else involved, and we are all involved, loses. The kids, who are doomed to fail. The country, who misses the chance for the brightest and best and instead gets mediocre, often becoming wards of the state for 20 - life. The taxpayer, who gets nothing for their dollar.